(Kuala Lumpur, 17th) DAP Bagan Member of Parliament Lim Guan Eng questioned whether the Islamic Party (PAS) has no other respected leaders, resulting in the appointment of Dato’ Seri Ahmad Samsuri as the sole individual 'wearing two hats', simultaneously serving as the Parliamentary Opposition Leader and Terengganu Menteri Besar.
Lim Guan Eng issued a statement congratulating Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is also the chairman of Perikatan Nasional, for being appointed as the Parliamentary Opposition Leader. "However, this also raises the question: Does PAS no longer have any respected leaders, to the extent that Ahmad Samsuri must personally hold both positions?"
Lim pointed out that both roles are extremely demanding in their own right, each requiring undivided attention and full-time commitment. "Perhaps even Ahmad Samsuri himself would feel confused as to which duties should take priority — that of Parliamentary Opposition Leader or Menteri Besar of Terengganu? With the considerable distance between Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Terengganu, to what extent can he properly fulfill both responsibilities at the same time?"
As a full-time Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Lim said Ahmad Samsuri must attend Parliament sessions daily. "So far, according to data on the Parliament’s online portal, as Kemaman Member of Parliament, he has only attended 158 out of 248 parliamentary sitting days, with an attendance rate of just 63.7%. The website’s assessment of his attendance rate is: Needs Improvement."
He questioned how Ahmad Samsuri, with only a 63.7% parliamentary attendance rate, could be expected to fulfill the responsibilities of the Parliamentary Opposition Leader. "If he attends every Parliament session in the future, will he then be able to fully perform his Menteri Besar duties and responsibilities in Terengganu, given his extended absence from Kuala Terengganu?"
He questioned how Ahmad Samsuri, with only a 63.7% parliamentary attendance rate, could be expected to fulfill the responsibilities of the Parliamentary Opposition Leader. "If he attends every Parliament session in the future, will he then be able to fully perform his Menteri Besar duties and responsibilities in Terengganu, given his extended absence from Kuala Terengganu?"
With Ahmad Samsuri 'wearing two hats' by holding both positions simultaneously, Lim claimed this is neither realistic nor practical. "In the end, it is the people of Terengganu and voters who support Perikatan Nasional at the parliamentary level who will lose out, for they will not be able to receive his full attention and commitment."